Package with tambour closure

ABSTRACT

A package comprised of a container and a tambour closure physically attached by a hinge to the container is described. A guide, such as grooves in side walls, is attached to the container and the tambour closure is disposed to move within the guide. The tambour closure is preferably self closing and the container has at least two compartments. The guide and the container are thermoformed as a unitary piece, and/or the container and the tambour closure are made as a unitary pieces. Preferably, the package is molded from a single sheet of material. The package is at least two colors. Opposites sides of the sheet may be different colors so that the external surface is one color and the internal surface another. Also, different portions of the sheet may be different colors so that one portion of the package is a first color and another portion is another color.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to the art of packages.More specifically, the present invention relates to one-piece moldedpackages.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Tambour closures have been used in packages, furniture, andcabinets for some time. The construction of these closures makes themlongitudinally flexible and at the same time transversely rigid. Thelongitudinal flexibility allows for a closure that will conform to theshape of the package, furniture, or cabinets in which they are used.

[0003] A closure, as used herein, is a structure that closes, includingbut not limited to a door, cover, lid, drawer, top, or other structure.A tambour closure, as used herein, is a closure that includes aplurality of transverse ridges, strips, slats, pieces, or otherstructures that allow the closure to flex in the longitudinal direction.

[0004] Some tambour closures, such as those used in roll top desks,consist of a plurality of rigid wooden strips arranged in parallelfashion side-by-side and glued to a canvas backing material. The canvasbacking material allows the tambour closure to flex which in turn allowsthe tambour closure to follow a curved path. This type of tambourclosure is typically positioned in a track or guide and is completelyfree to move in the track. The problem with this type of tambour closureis that the tambour closure must be assembled from numerous pieces, andfurther the tambour closure, which constitutes a separate piece, must beassembled into the desk.

[0005] Other tambour closures are made of plastic strips (also calledslats or ridges), that are molded to each other via plastic flex joints.The flex joints allow for flexing of the plastic tambour closure. Suchplastic tambour closures have been molded as a unitary piece. (A unitarypiece or structure, as used herein, is a structure that is molded in asingle molding operation as one piece.) U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,895 shows aunitary tambour closure.

[0006] However, U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,895 merely describes a tambourclosure, and not an entire package. Thus, to be used in a package thetambour closure of U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,895 must be assembled with aseparate piece, and the resulting package would not be unitary. Anexample of a non-unitary package with a tambour closure is shown in U.S.Pat. No. 3,814,493. Another type of prior art arrangement is disclosedin U.S. Pat. No. 3,582,171. Here, a plastic drawer is molded to one endof the plastic tambour closure. The tambour closure/drawer combinationis then assembled with the rest of the package such that when the draweris opened or closed, the tambour closure opens and closes. A similarpackage is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,723,858 wherein the plastictambour closure is molded to a plastic holding cup that moves up anddown inside of the container. In this package, as the tambour closure isopened and closed, the holding cup moves up and down. Again, the problemhere is that manufacture of these packages is cumbersome becauseassembly is required.

[0007] Each of these prior art packages are not unitary; at a minimumthe complete package consists of a container piece and a separatetambour closure piece. The package is made by assembling these twopieces together. This requires a separate assembly step during themanufacturing process. Thus, it is desirable to have a unitary packagewherein the container and the tambour closure are unitary, whereby noassembly is required. A container, as used herein, is any structure thatcan be used in connection with a closure, including, but not limited to,bowls, dishes, compartments, trays, vessels, receptacles, etc.

[0008] Prior art tambour closures are placed in a guide and are free tomove within the guide between an open position and a closed position andvisa-versa. However, the tambour closure must be manually closed or aseparate structure must be added to the package, such as a springmechanism, to facilitate automatic closing of the tambour closure.Therefore it is desirable to have a tambour closure that is self closingand that does not require a separate structure to facilitate closing.

[0009] Prior art tambour closures are entirely contained in the guide inwhich they move, even when the tambour closure is open. Prior arttambour closures are also not physically attached to (affixed at one ormore fixed locations or unitary with) the guide or container in whichthey are located because the entire tambour closure must be free to movewithin the guide. It is desirable to have a tambour closure wherein oneend of the tambour closure is physically attached to the container ofthe package.

[0010] With the current marketing emphasis on product presentation andspecialized packaging, multi-colored (black, white, clear, and any othershade of color) packages are desirable. For instance, one possibility isto have a package that has a closure of one color an a container of adifferent color. An alternative multi-colored package would be onehaving an external color that is one color and an internal color that isa different color.

[0011] In general, to obtain these types of multi-colored packages, twoseparate pieces, each of a different color, are molded separately. Thetwo pieces are then either assembled, glued, or sonically weldedtogether in a second processing step. Overall, the manufacturing processfor these multi-colored packages requires two molding steps and anassembly step.

[0012] It is therefore desirable to have a package and a process formaking the package wherein the closure and the container are molded as aunitary piece and further wherein the package is multi-colored. Morespecifically, it is desirable to have a package and a process for makingthe package wherein the closure and the container are molded as aunitary piece and further wherein the closure or a portion of theclosure is one color and the container or a portion of the container isa different color. Likewise, it is also desirable to have a package anda process for making the package wherein the entire container and theclosure are molded as a unitary piece and further wherein the exterioror a portion of the exterior is one color and the interior or a portionof the interior is a different color.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] A first aspect of the invention is a package comprised of acontainer and a tambour closure physically attached to the container. Aguide is attached to the container and the tambour closure is disposedto move within the guide.

[0014] The guide and the container are made as a unitary piece, and/orthe container and the tambour closure are made as a unitary piece invarious alternatives. Preferably, the package is molded from a singlesheet of material in the latter alternative.

[0015] The package is at least two colors in other alternatives. Theexternal surface is at least a first color and the internal surface atleast a second color in one embodiment. The container top surface is atleast a first color and the tambour closure top surface is at least asecond color in another embodiment. A portion of the container is atleast a first color and a portion of the tambour closure is at least asecond color in a different alternative. The container internal surfaceis at least a first color and the tambour closure external surface is atleast a second color in another embodiment.

[0016] The package is formed from a sheet of material having one surfaceat least a first color and a second surface at least a second color. Thecontainer top surface formed from the first surface and is at least thefirst color and the closure top surface is formed from the secondsurface and is at least the second color. Alternatively, the sheet ofmaterial has a first portion of at least a first color and a secondportion, of at least a second color such that at least a portion of thecontainer is at least the first color and at least a portion of thetambour closure is at least the second color.

[0017] The tambour closure is physically attached to the container by ahinge that is part of the package in one embodiment. The tambourclosure, and the hinge are made as a unitary piece, and preferablymolded from a single sheet of material in other alternatives.

[0018] The tambour closure is self closing in another embodiment.

[0019] The container has at least two compartments in anotheralternative.

[0020] The package is a thermoformed package in another alternative.

[0021] The guide is a groove located in opposing, substantially parallelside walls in another alternative.

[0022] According to a second aspect of the invention a package includesa container and a closure formed molded as a unitary piece from a sheetof material. A first sheet surface is at least a first color and asecond sheet surface is at least a second color. A container top surfaceis at least the first color and a closure top surface is at least thesecond color.

[0023] According to a third aspect of the invention a package includes acontainer and a closure that are molded as a unitary piece from a sheetof material. A first portion of the sheet is at least a first color anda second portion of the sheet is at least a second color. At least aportion of the container is at least the first color, and at least aportion of the closure is at least the second color.

[0024] According to a fourth aspect of the invention a package includesa container and a closure formed molded as a unitary piece from a sheetof material. A first surface of the sheet is at least a first color anda second surface of the sheet is at least a second color. The containerinternal surface is at least the first color and the container externalsurface is at least the second color.

[0025] According to a fifth aspect of the invention a unitary package isformed from a single sheet of material. The external surface of thepackage is at least a first color and the internal surface is at least asecond color.

[0026] According to a sixth aspect of the invention a unitary package isformed from a single sheet of material. The unitary package has acontainer and a closure. The container top surface is at least a firstcolor and the closure top surface is at least a second color.

[0027] According to a seventh aspect of the invention a unitary packageis formed from a single sheet of material. The unitary package has acontainer and a closure. A portion of the container is at least a firstcolor and a portion of the closure is at least a second color.

[0028] According to an eighth aspect of the invention a unitary packageis formed from a single sheet of material. The unitary package has acontainer and a closure. The container internal surface is at least afirst color and the closure external surface is at least a second color.

[0029] Other principal features and advantages of the present inventionwill become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of thefollowing drawings, the detailed description and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention consisting of a package having a hinged tambourclosure with the tambour closure in the closed position;

[0031]FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the package shown in FIG. 1with the tambour closure in a completely open position;

[0032]FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the package shown in FIG. 1with the tambour closure in a partially open position;

[0033]FIG. 4 shows a top view of the tool used to make the package shownin FIGS. 1-3;

[0034]FIG. 5 shows a side view of the tool used to make the packageshown in FIGS. 1-3;

[0035]FIG. 6 shows an end view of the container portion of the tool usedto make the package shown in FIGS. 1-3;

[0036]FIG. 7 shows an end view of the tambour closure portion of thetool used to make the package shown in FIGS. 1-3;

[0037]FIG. 8 shows a close-up top view of the movable ledge mountingarrangement of the tool used to make the package shown in FIGS. 1-3;

[0038]FIG. 9 shows a close-up end view of the movable ledge portion ofthe tool used to make the package shown in FIGS. 1-3; and

[0039]FIG. 10 shows a close-up side view of the latch which is a part ofthe package shown in FIGS. 1-3.

[0040] Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention indetail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in itsapplication to the details of construction and the arrangement of thecomponents set forth in the following description or illustrated in thedrawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of beingpracticed or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understoodthat the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purposeof description and should not be regarded as limiting. Like referencenumerals are used to indicate like components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0041] While the present invention will be illustrated with reference toa particular package configuration made from a particular moldingprocess, it should be understood at the outset that the presentinvention is not limited to this package configuration or this moldingprocess.

[0042] Generally, the present invention relates to a package having acontainer and a closure. The preferred embodiment of the presentinvention consists of a container, a hinge, and a tambour closure. Thehinge physically attaches the tambour closure to the container.

[0043] The container, hinge, and tambour closure are molded as a unitarypiece using a plastic thermoform molding process in the preferredembodiment. The packages of the present invention, however, are notlimited to unitary packages, for example in one alternative the tambourclosure is formed separately and physically attached to the container,and are not limited to manufacture by thermoform molding. To close thetambour closure, the tambour closure is folded up about the hinge andthe front end of the tambour closure is slid into a guide contained inthe container. The physical attachment of one end of the tambour closureresults in a tambour closure that is self closing as will be more fullydescribed below.

[0044] If a single sheet of material having top and bottom surfaces ofdifferent colors is used to form a unitary package, the resultingunitary package can be configured to be multi-colored having specificportions or parts that are different colors. The term sheet top surface,as used herein, refers to the surface of a sheet of material that doesnot contact the tool that is used to make the package. Similarly, forpurposes of this disclosure, the term sheet bottom surface, as usedherein, refers to the surface of the sheet of material that contacts thetool that is used to make the package.

[0045] In one multi-colored embodiment of the present invention, theunitary package made from such a sheet of material (i.e. having top andbottom surfaces of different colors) has a container top surface (or aportion thereof) of one color and a closure top surface (or a portionthereof) that is a different color in this embodiment. Thismulti-colored package configuration results because the closure topsurface (or a portion thereof) corresponds to one surface of the sheetof material which is one color and the container top surface (or aportion thereof) corresponds to the other surface of the sheet ofmaterial which is a different color.

[0046] In another multi-colored embodiment of the present invention, theunitary package made from such a sheet of material (i.e. again havingtop and bottom surfaces of different colors) is configured having anexternal package surface (or a portion thereof) that is one color and aninternal package surface (or a portion thereof) that is a differentcolor. This color scheme results when the container external surface andthe closure external surface (or portions thereof) both correspond toone surface of the sheet of material which is one color and thecontainer internal surface and the closure internal surface bothcorrespond to the other surface of the sheet of material which is adifferent color.

[0047] The term external surface, as used herein with respect to thepackage, container, and/or closure, refers to the surface on the outsideof the package, container, and/or closure when the closure is in aclosed position. The term internal surface, as used herein with respectto the package, container, and/or closure, refers to the surface on theinside of the package, container, and/or closure when the closure is ina closed position. The term top surface, as used herein with respect tothe package, container, and/or closure, refers to the surface on the topside of the package, container, and/or closure when the closure is in aclosed position. The term bottom surface, as used herein with respect tothe package, container, and/or closure, refers to the surface on theunderside of the package, container, and/or closure when the closure isin a closed position.

[0048] If a sheet of material having two separate portions of differentcolors (i.e. one-half of the sheet is a first color and the otherone-half of the sheet is a second color different from the first color)is used to form the unitary package, the resulting unitary package canalso be configured to be multi-colored having specific portions or partsthat are different colors.

[0049] In another multi-colored embodiment of the present invention, theunitary package made from such a sheet of material (i.e. having twoseparate portions of different colors) has a container of one color or aportion of which is one color and a closure of a different color or aportion of which is a different color.

[0050] Although several multi-colored package embodiments of the presentinvention have been described, the package of the present invention isnot limited to these particular multi-colored package embodiments. Thepresent invention includes any multi-colored package configurations thatcan be obtained for a unitary package made from a single sheet ofmaterial.

[0051] The preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown inFIG. 1. Package 10 is shown consisting of a container 11, a tambourclosure 12, and a hinge 13. Hinge 13 physically attaches container 11 totambour closure 12. In FIG. 1, package 10 is shown with tambour closure12 in the completely closed position.

[0052]FIG. 2 shows the preferred embodiment of the present inventionwith tambour closure 12 in an open position exposing the inside ofcontainer 11. Container 11 consists of a front wall 14, a rear wall 15,and two side walls 16, 17. Side walls 16 and 17 are positioned oppositeand substantially parallel to each other on either side of container 11.

[0053] Container 11 contains three compartments 18, 19, and 20 in thepreferred embodiment. Surface 22 is located at the top edge of, andsurrounds, each of compartments 18, 19, and 20. Although the containerin the preferred embodiment contains a specific number and configurationof compartments, the present invention is not limited to this number orconfiguration and any convenient number or configuration of compartmentscould be provided. In this embodiment, three compartments are shown. Inother embodiments, a single compartment or a pair of compartments arepresent.

[0054] Sidewall 16 extends above surface 22 as shown in FIG. 2. Aninwardly directed lip 23 extends inward from the top of sidewall 16. Alongitudinal groove 24 running along a substantial portion of the lengthof sidewall 16 is formed by the combination of surface 22, sidewall 16,and lip 23.

[0055] Likewise, sidewall 17 extends above surface 22. A second inwardlydirected lip 25 extends inward from the top of sidewall 17. Alongitudinal groove 26 (not shown) running along a substantial portionof the length of sidewall 17 is formed by the combination of surface 22,sidewall 17, and lip 25.

[0056] The combination of grooves 24 and 26 form a guide in container 11in which tambour closure 12 can easily slide. It should be noted that inthe preferred embodiment, lips 23 and 24 do not extend the entire lengthof sidewalls 16 and 17. Therefore, grooves 24 and 26 also do not run theentire length of sidewalls 16 and 17 respectively. The significance ofthis will be discussed below.

[0057] The term guide, as used herein, refers to any structure thatprovides guidance for the movement of a tambour closure between an openand a closed position, such as, but not limited to, a track, slot,groove, etc.

[0058] A latch 27 is provided near the front end of container 11 andextends upward from surface 22 (see FIG. 10). Latch 27 has a latchsurface 28 and a front surface 29 which is substantially perpendicularto both surfaces 22 and 28. An angled triangular surface 30 extendsrearward from surface 28. Triangular surface 30 gradually rises fromsurface 22 to surface 28. The function of latch 27 will be describedbelow.

[0059]FIG. 3 shows tambour closure 12 consisting of a plurality ofridges 31 arranged transversely side-by-side. A flex joint 32 isparallel to, and located between, each pair of elongated ridges 31.

[0060] Each of the plurality of ridges 31 does not extend the full widthof tambour closure 12. A short guide ridge 40 projects from each end ofeach ridge 31 (accept for the last ridge 31 closest to hinge 13). Eachguide ridge 40 is shorter in height than the particular ridge 31 fromwhich it projects. Each guide ridge 40 projects from its correspondingridge 31 just inside of the edge (width wise) of tambour closure 12. Thepurpose for each guide ridge 40 will be explained below.

[0061] A raised front panel 33 having a height approximately equal tothe height of each ridge 31 is located at the front end of tambourclosure 12. The increased width of front panel 33 compared to the widthof each ridge 31 adds crossways rigidity to the front end of tambourclosure 12. A finger notch 34 is molded into front panel 33 to allow foreasier opening and closing of tambour closure 12. Finally, at the frontend of tambour closure 12 is a horizontal lip 35 extending forward froma front wall 36.

[0062] Hinge 13 is located at the rear end of tambour closure 12. Oneedge of hinge 13 is physically attached to container 11 via flex joint37. The other edge of hinge 13 is physically attached to tambour closure12 via double flex joint 38. For added crossways rigidity, hinge 13contains four raised panels 39.

[0063] Although tambour closure 12 is physically attached to container11 using hinge 13 in the preferred embodiment, the physical attachmentof the tambour closure to the container in the present invention is notlimited to the use of a hinge.

[0064] The operation of tambour closure 12 will now be described (seeFIG. 3). The front end of tambour closure 12 is first positioned suchthat front panel 33 is aligned with the guide formed by grooves 24 and26. Once aligned, tambour closure 12 is inserted into the guide. Astambour closure 12 is inserted, the closure slides on top of surface 22with guide ridges 40 located under lips 23 and 25.

[0065] The height and location of guide ridges 40 are such that eachguide ridge 40 slides under one of the lips 23 or 25 as tambour closure12 is closed. The last ridge 31 nearest hinge 13 does not haveassociated guide ridges as previously mentioned because no part of thisridge extends under lips 23 or 25.

[0066] During closing, tambour closure 12 is slid along surface 22 ofcontainer 11 until lip 35 at the front end of tambour closure 12 nearslatch 27. Once lip 35 reaches latch 27, lip 35 is further slid overtriangular surface 30 until front wall 36 on tambour closure 12 is incontact with front surface 29 on latch 27. This effectively securestambour closure 12 in the closed position. To open tambour closure 12,the above described process is simply reversed.

[0067] The physical attachment of one end of tambour closure 12 tocontainer 11 provides a self closing feature for package 10 in thisembodiment. This physical attachment creates a spring Like effect whichis produced by the unnatural curvature of tambour closure 12 whentambour closure 12 is in a partially closed position (see FIG. 3).

[0068] With one end of tambour closure 12 fixed to hinge 13 and theother end of tambour closure 12 partially inserted into the guide,tambour closure 12 is forced to assume an unnatural curved orientationoutside of the guide. In this situation, only the front end of tambourclosure 12 is free to move. The resulting spring forces acting ontambour closure 12 while it is in this unnatural curved position willhave a tendency to force the free end of tambour closure 12 into theguide toward a closed position. Thus, tambour closure 12 is self closingin this embodiment.

[0069] The preferred embodiment of the present invention is made as aunitary package using a conventional plastic thermoforming process.FIGS. 4-9 show tool 100 used to make unitary package 10. Tool 100consists of a male portion 101 above the sheet line 103 and a femaleportion 102 below sheet line 103. Male portion 101 is used to formcontainer 11. Female portion 102 is used to form tambour closure 12 andhinge 13. The term male portion, as used herein with respect to tools,refers to a tool structure that is above the sheet line of the tool. Theterm female portion, as used herein with respect to tools, refers to atool structure that is below the sheet line of the tool.

[0070] A first movable ledge 104 on one side of male portion 101 isshown in FIGS. 4 and 6. A second movable ledge (not shown) is located onthe opposite side of male portion 101. Movable ledge 104 is mounted totool 100 via a pair of pins 105 and is also attached to tool 100 viasprings 106. A groove 107 is formed between movable ledge 104 andsurface 108 of male portion 101. The function of movable ledge 104 willbe discussed below.

[0071] During the thermoforming process, a sheet of plastic material isheated and then pulled down and formed on to tool 100 using a vacuum(from below the sheet of material), form air (pressurized air from abovethe sheet of material), and plug assist modules (used to force the sheetof material down into tool 100). Tool 100 contains small vacuum holes invarious strategic locations that allow for the sheet of material to bepulled tightly into various nooks and crannies in tool 100. One suchnook where the sheet needs to be pulled into is groove 107.

[0072] The newly formed package is ready to be removed from the toolonce the package has cooled and hardened sufficiently. One problem isthat a portion of the newly formed package is located under movableledge 104. If movable ledge 104 were rigidly attached to tool 100, itwould be very difficult to remove the newly formed package from tool 100without deforming the newly formed package.

[0073] To allow for easy withdrawal, however, movable ledge 104 isspring loaded and is designed to move up and out of the way as the newlyformed package is withdrawn. This allows for the newly formed package tobe easily withdrawn. Once the package is removed, moveable ledge 104returns to its lowered position for the start of molding the nextpackage.

[0074] One feature of the preferred embodiment of the present inventionis that, using a single sheet of material, unitary package 10 can bemade with container 11 having a container top surface (or a portionthereof) of one color and tambour closure 12 having a closure topsurface (or a portion thereof) that is a different color. This isaccomplished using a single sheet of material having a sheet top surfaceof one color and a sheet bottom surface having a color different fromthe color of the sheet top surface.

[0075] In the molding process for making the preferred embodiment, thesheet of material is pulled down on to tool 100 with the sheet topsurface facing away from tool 100 and the sheet bottom surface incontact with tool 100. With respect to tool 100, when the sheet ofmaterial is formed on tool 100, the sheet top surface covering maleportion 101 corresponds to the container top surface and the sheetbottom surface which is in contact with the male portion 101 of tool 100corresponds to the container bottom surface of container 11.

[0076] With respect to tambour closure 12, the sheet top surfacecovering female portion 102 corresponds to the closure bottom surface oftambour closure 12 and the sheet bottom surface which is in contact withthe female portion 102 of tool 100 corresponds to the closure topsurface of tambour closure 12.

[0077] The result of using a sheet of material with two differentsurface colors (i.e. the sheet top surface is one color and the sheetbottom surface is a different color) is that, in the preferredembodiment, the container top surface (or a portion thereof) will be onecolor while the tambour closure top surface (or a portion thereof) willbe a different color. This results simply because tambour closure 12actually folds over on top of container 11 when tambour closure 12 is ina closed position.

[0078] In an alternative package embodiment of the present invention(not shown) which is also made using a single sheet of material having asheet top surface that is a first color and a sheet bottom surface thatis a second color different from the first color, a unitary package canbe made having a package internal surface (or a portion thereof) that isone color and a package external surface (or a portion thereof) that isa different color.

[0079] In the molding process for this alternative package embodiment,the sheet of material used to make the unitary package embodiment ispulled down on to a tool (not shown) that has either two female portions(i.e. one for molding the container and one for molding the closure) ortwo male portions. The sheet line of the tool in this embodiment is ator near the location of where the container and the closure matetogether.

[0080] The result of making this alternative embodiment from a sheet ofmaterial having two different surface colors (i.e. the sheet top surfaceis one color and the sheet bottom surface is a different color) is thatthe package external surface (or a portion thereof) will be one colorwhile the package internal surface (or a portion thereof) will be adifferent color. This results simply because the external surfaces ofthe container and closure both correspond to one sheet surface of thesheet of material used to make the package and the internal surfaces ofthe container and closure both correspond to the other sheet surface ofthe sheet of material.

[0081] Another feature of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention is that using a single sheet of material having two portionsof different colors (i.e. one-half of the sheet is a first color and theother one-half of the sheet is a second color different from the firstcolor), package 10 can be molded with container 11 (or a portion ofcontainer 11) being a first color and tambour closure 12 (or a portionof tambour closure 12) being a second color different from the firstcolor.

[0082] Numerous modifications may be made to the present invention whichstill fall within the intended scope hereof. Thus, it should be apparentthat there has been provided in accordance with the present invention apackage and process for making the package that fully satisfies theobjectives and advantages set forth above. Although the invention hasbeen described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it isevident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will beapparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended toembrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fallwithin the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. A package comprising: acontainer; a guide attached to the container; and a tambour closurephysically attached to the container, wherein the tambour closure isdisposed to move within the guide.
 2. The package of claim 1 wherein theguide and the container are made as a unitary piece.
 3. The package ofclaim 1 wherein the container and the tambour closure are made as aunitary piece.
 4. The package of claim 3 wherein the package is moldedfrom a single sheet of material.
 5. The package of claim 4 wherein thepackage has a package external surface that is at least a first colorand a package internal surface that is at least a second color differentfrom the first color.
 6. The package of claim 4 wherein the containerhas a container top surface that is at least a first color and thetambour closure has a closure top surface that is at least a secondcolor different from the first color.
 7. The package of claim 4 whereina portion of the container is at least a first color and a portion ofthe tambour closure is at least a second color different from the firstcolor.
 8. The package of claim 4 wherein the container has a containerinternal surface that is at least a first color and the tambour closurehas a closure external surface that is at least a second color differentfrom the first color.
 9. The package of claim 4 wherein the containerhas a container top surface wherein the tambour closure has a closuretop surface, wherein the sheet of material has a first sheet surface anda second sheet surface, and further wherein the first sheet surface isat least a first color and the second sheet surface is at least a secondcolor different from the first color, wherein the container top surfaceis the at least first color and the closure top surface is the at leastsecond color.
 10. The package of claim 4 wherein the container has acontainer internal surface and a container external surface, wherein thetambour closure has a closure internal surface and a closure externalsurface, wherein the sheet of material has a first sheet surface and asecond sheet surface, and further wherein the first sheet surface is atleast a first color and the second sheet surface is at least a secondcolor different from the first color, wherein the container externalsurface and the closure external surface are both at least the firstcolor and the container internal surface and the closure internalsurface are both at least the second color.
 11. The package of claim 4wherein the sheet of material has a sheet first portion and a sheetsecond portion, and further wherein the sheet first portion is at leasta first color and the sheet second portion is at least a second colordifferent from the first color whereby at least a portion of thecontainer is at least the first color and at least a portion of thetambour closure is at least the second color.
 12. The package of claim 1further comprising a hinge, wherein the hinge physically attaches thetambour closure to the container.
 13. The package of claim 12 whereinthe container, the tambour closure, and the hinge are made as a unitarypiece.
 14. The package of claim 13 wherein the package is molded from asingle sheet of material.
 15. The package of claim 1 wherein thecontainer and the tambour closure are different colors.
 16. The packageof claim 1 wherein the tambour closure is self closing.
 17. The packageof claim 1 wherein the container has at least two compartments.
 18. Thepackage of claim 1 wherein the package is a thermoformed package. 19.The package of claim 1 wherein the container comprises two opposing andsubstantially parallel side walls and wherein the guide comprises agroove located in each opposing sidewall.
 20. A package comprising: acontainer formed from a sheet of material, wherein the sheet of materialhas a first sheet surface and a second sheet surface, and furtherwherein the first sheet surface is at least a first color and the secondsheet surface is at least a second color different from the first color,and further wherein the container has a container top surface, andfurther wherein the container top surface is at least the first color;and a closure formed from the sheet of material, wherein the containerand the closure are molded as a unitary piece, wherein the closure has aclosure top surface, and further wherein the closure top surface is atleast the second color.
 21. The package of claim 15 wherein the packageis a thermoformed package.
 22. A package comprising: a container formedfrom a sheet of material, wherein the sheet of material has a sheetfirst portion and a sheet second portion, and further wherein the sheetfirst portion is at least a first color and the sheet second portion isat least a second color different from the first color, and furtherwherein at least a portion of the container is at least the first color;and a closure formed from the sheet of material, wherein the containerand the closure are molded as a unitary piece, wherein at least aportion of the closure is at least the second color.
 23. The package ofclaim 17 wherein the package is a thermoformed package.
 24. A packagecomprising: a container formed from a sheet of material, wherein thesheet of material has a first sheet surface and a second sheet surface,and further wherein the first sheet surface is a at least first colorand the second sheet surface is at least a second color different fromthe first color, and further wherein the container has a containerinternal surface and a container external surface, wherein the containerinternal surface is at least the first color and the container externalsurface is at least the second color; and a closure formed from thesheet of material, wherein the container and the closure are molded as aunitary piece, wherein the closure has a closure internal surface and aclosure external surface, wherein the closure internal surface is atleast the first color and the closure external surface is at least thesecond color.
 25. An apparatus comprising: a unitary package formed froma single sheet of material, wherein the unitary package has a packageexternal surface that is at least a first color and a package internalsurface that is at least a second color different from the first color.26. An apparatus comprising: a unitary package formed from a singlesheet of material, wherein the unitary package has a container and aclosure, wherein the container has a container top surface that is atleast a first color and the closure has a closure top surface that is atleast a second color different from the first color.
 27. An apparatuscomprising: a unitary package formed from a single sheet of material,wherein the unitary package has a container and a closure, wherein aportion of the container is at least a first color and a portion of theclosure is at least a second color different from the first color. 28.An apparatus comprising: a unitary package formed from a single sheet ofmaterial, wherein the unitary package has a container and a closure,wherein the container has a container internal surface that is at leasta first color and the closure has a closure external surface that is atleast a second color different from the first color.